Chucking mechanism, brushless motor having the chucking mechanism, and disk driving apparatus having the brushless motor

ABSTRACT

A movement pivot receiving portion which receives a movement pivot portion of a claw member and a movement support receiving portion which receives a movement assist portion of the claw member are arranged radially within a cylindrical portion of a center case. By virtue of such configuration, both receiving portions are designed with a greater degree of freedom within a space between an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion and an outer circumferential surface of a base portion. Therefore, the claw member may be designed to have a preferable thickness while achieving a preferable movement of in an axial direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a chucking mechanism operable to detachably set thereon a discoid disk, and to a motor including the chucking mechanism, and a disk driving apparatus including the motor.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, a slot loading mechanism in which a disk is slid in and out of a disk driving apparatus is used in a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as PC). This mechanism is particularly useful for a PC having a slim shape.

The slot loading mechanism requires no tray moving the disk to a spindle motor which rotates the disk, and therefore is allowed to be slim. However, there is an increased demand to further slim down the disk driving apparatus. In order to further slim down the disk driving apparatus, the spindle motor used therein also needs to be slimmer. It is, however, a difficult task to reduce a thickness of a chucking mechanism on which the disk is removably set and which is arranged in the spindle motor.

Also, the disk driving apparatus having applied thereon the slot loading mechanism usually retains the disk by itself without using a clamping member in order to achieve a thin chucking mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a cross sectional view, in an axial direction, of a conventional configuration of the chucking mechanism.

According to FIG. 14, a chucking mechanism 1 includes a turn table 2 having a disk setting surface 2 a on which a disk (not shown in FIG. 14) having a central opening portion, a center case 3, a plurality of claw members 4, and an elastic member 5 providing a radial force for each claw member 4. The center case 3 includes a cylindrical portion 3 a around which an inner circumferential surface of the central opening portion of the disk will be arranged, a top plate portion 3 b arranged such as to cover a top end of the cylindrical portion 3 a, and a plurality of openings 3 c allowing the claw members 4 to move therethrough. The claw member 4 includes a disk retaining surface 4 a which makes contact with the central opening portion so as to retain the disk. Also, the center case 3 preferably includes an upward guiding surface 3 d which makes contact with the claw member 4 so as to guide a sliding movement of the claw member 4.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A chucking mechanism according to the present invention, a claw member includes a movement pivot portion and a movement support portion at a portion of the claw member radially further inward than the movement pivot portion in order to allow the claw member to move in a radial and an axial direction. When the movement support portion makes contact with the movement support receiving portion, the radial movement of the claw member is well supported, and therefore, a disk will be retained by the chucking mechanism effectively.

Other features, elements, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view in an axial direction showing a brushless motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a chucking mechanism of the present invention as seen from above.

FIG. 3 a is a schematic cross sectional view of a center case of the present invention.

FIG. 3 b is a plan view of the center case as seen from above.

FIG. 4 a is a side view of a claw member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 b is a front view of the claw member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 c is a plan view of the claw member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 d is a schematic cross sectional view of the claw member of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism before a disk makes contact therewith.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism when the disk begins to make contact with a disk guiding surface.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism according to the present invention in which a movement support portion is arranged at a position of a curved surface.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism according to the present invention in which the movement support portion slides over an upper movement support surface.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism according to the present invention in which a tip portion thereof is at an axially lowest position.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism according to the present invention in which the claw member retains the disk.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism according to the present invention in which an inner configuration of the claw portion according to FIG. 9 is shown.

FIG. 12 is a graph indicating a correlation between a rate of occurrence of chucking failure and an axial height of a tip portion of the claw member of the chucking mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of a disk driving apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a conventional chucking mechanism before a disk makes contact therewith.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the conventional chucking mechanism when the disk begins to make contact with a claw member.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the conventional chucking mechanism in which a tip portion thereof is at an axially lowest position.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view showing a relationship between the claw portion and the elastic member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Note that in the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention herein, words such as upper, lower, left, right, upward, downward, top, and bottom for describing positional relationships between respective member and directions merely indicate positional relationships and directions in the drawings. Such words do not indicate positional relationships and directions of the member set in an actual device. Also note that a direction parallel to Z axis herein will be referred to as an axial direction. Also, note that the reference numerals, figure numbers and supplementary descriptions are shown below for assisting the reader in finding corresponding components in the description of the preferred embodiments below to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. It should be noted that these expressions in no way restrict the scope of the present invention.

Structure of Brushless Motor

Hereinafter a brushless motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view in an axial direction of a brushless motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a stator portion of the brushless motor will be described.

A housing 10 preferably having a substantially cylindrical shape concentric with a central axis J1 is preferably made by a deformation process such as cutting performed on a copper base material. A sleeve 20 is affixed to an inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical portion 11 of the housing 10. The sleeve 20 preferably having a substantially cylindrical shape is a sintered member impregnated with oil.

The housing 10 preferably includes at a portion axially below the cylindrical portion 11 a stator base portion 12 preferably having a substantially cylindrical shape extending radially outward, wherein the cylindrical portion 11 and the stator base portion 12 are preferably formed integrally. The stator base portion 12 preferably includes at a bottom surface thereof a protrusion extending radially inward and a protrusion extending radially outward (hereinafter, referred to as inner circumferential protrusion 12 a and outer circumferential protrusion 12 b, respectively). A plate 30 is arranged extending inwardly from the inner circumferential protrusion 12 a. The plate 30 and the inner circumferential protrusion 12 a are affixed to one another by calking. A thrust plate 40 preferably having a substantially disk shape preferably made of a material excellent in abrasion resistance quality is arranged axially above the plate 30.

The housing 10 preferably includes at an outer circumferential portion of the stator base portion 12 a stator setting portion 12 c for setting thereon a stator 50 (described below). The stator 50 preferably includes a stator core 51 having a core back portion 51 a, a plurality of tooth portions 51 b each extending radially outward of the core back portion 51 a, and a plurality of coils 52 each formed by winding a plurality of times a conductive wire around each tooth portion 51 b.

The housing 10 preferably includes at a portion radially inward of the stator 50 of the stator base portion 12 a pressuring magnet 60 preferably having a substantially annular shape. The pressuring magnet 60 is arranged such as to axially oppose a bottom surface of a lid portion 101 of a rotor holder 100 (described below).

An attachment board 70 is affixed by calking to the housing 10 at an outer circumferential surface of the outer circumferential protrusion 12 b. A circuit board 80 for controlling a rotation of the brushless motor is arranged on a top surface of the attachment board 70. An axially lower portion of the stator 50 is preferably covered by the circuit board 80 and the attachment board 70.

Hereinafter, a rotor portion of the brushless motor will be described.

A shaft 90 is inserted in an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 20 in a concentric manner with the central axis J1. The shaft 90 is rotatably supported in a radial direction by the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 20 while the same is supported in the axial direction by the thrust plate 40.

A rotor holder 100 preferably having an operculated and substantially cylindrical shape is affixed at an upper portion of the shaft 90 so as to cover the stator 50. The rotor holder 100 is preferably formed by pressing a magnetic steel plate. Also, the rotor holder 100 preferably includes a lid portion 101 and a cylindrical portion 102. The lid portion 101 preferably includes at a portion axially corresponding to the sleeve 20 and the cylindrical portion 11 a leveled portion 101 a. By virtue of such configuration, the sleeve 20 can be extended in the axial direction. At a bottom surface of the leveled portion 101 a a stopper member 120 for preventing the rotor holder 100 from being removed in the axial direction is arranged.

A rotor magnet 110 is arranged at an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 102. An inner circumferential surface of the rotor magnet 110 is opposed, via a gap in the radial direction, to an outer circumferential surface of the tooth portions 51 b of the stator 50.

A center case 210 of a chucking mechanism 200 for detachably setting thereon a disk (not shown in FIG. 1) is arranged on a top surface of the lid portion 101. A disk setting portion 101 b for setting thereon the disk is arranged at an outer end of the lid portion 101. According to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention the rotor holder 100 functions as a turn table.

Chucking Mechanism

Hereinafter, the chucking mechanism 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 5. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 a is a schematic cross sectional view in the axial direction of the center case according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 b is a plan view of the center case 210 according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 a is a schematic side view of a claw member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 b is a schematic front view of a claw member 220 according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 c is a plan view of the claw member 220 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

According to FIG. 2 r the chucking mechanism 200 preferably includes the center case 210 preferably having a substantially cylindrical shape concentric with the central axis J1, and the rotor holder 100 (i.e., turn table) having the disk setting portion 101 b. The disk setting portion 101 b set on the rotor holder 100 is preferably made of a material excellent in coefficient of friction.

The center case 210 preferably includes at an outer circumference thereof a plurality of aligning claws 131 a for aligning a central opening portion of the disk with the central axis J1, a plurality of claw members 220 arranged so as to contact with the inner circumferential surface of the central opening of the disk. To be more specific, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chucking mechanism 200 preferably includes three aligning claws 131 a and claw members 220 each are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction evenly apart from one another. Also, the center case 210 preferably includes an elastic member 230 which provides radial force for each claw member 220.

According to FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, the center case 210 preferably includes a cylindrical portion 212, a guiding portion 213 arranged axially above the cylindrical portion 212 for guiding the disk to the cylindrical portion 212, a base portion 214 for connecting the center case 210 with the rotor holder 100, and a top plate portion 215 connecting the guiding portion 213 and the base portion 214. Also, the center case 210 preferably includes at a portion between the cylindrical portion 212 and an outer edge of the top plate portion 215 an opening 216 for each claw member 220. Note that the center case 210 is made by an injection molding and made of a resin material and as a single component.

The opening 216 preferably includes a side opening portion 216 a opening toward the cylindrical portion 212 and the guiding portion 213, and an upper side opening portion 216 b opening continuously upwardly from the side opening portion 216 a. It is to be appreciated that a circumferential width of the side opening portion 216 a is greater than that of a claw portion 221 (described later) of the claw member 220, and is smaller than that of the claw member 220 including a pair of movement support portions 222 (described later). Also, the side opening portion 216 a penetrates to a bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 212. Also, a circumferential width of the upper side opening portion 216 b is greater than that of the claw portion 221, and is smaller than that of the claw member 220 including a pair of movement pivot portions 222 a (described later) of the movement support portions 222. Also the upper side opening portion 216 b includes a widened portion 216 b 1 whose circumferential width is equal to or greater than that of a pair of movement pivot receiving portions 217 (described later) circumferentially binding the claw portion 221. Also, the circumferential width of the widened portion 216 b 1 is smaller than that of a pair of upper side contact surfaces 222 a 2 (described later) of the movement support portion 222. Also, the radial width of the widened portion 216 b 1 is equal to or greater than that of movement pivot receiving portion 217.

The top plate portion 215 preferably includes at a position corresponding to both sides in the circumferential ends of the widened portion 216 b 1 a lower side receiving surface 215 a which restricts a radial movement of the claw member 220 by making contact with the upper side contact surface 222 a 2.

The cylindrical portion 212 preferably includes at both sides in the circumferential direction of the side opening portion 216 a the movement pivot receiving portion 217 which preferably includes a plane surface extending substantially perpendicularly to the central axis J1, and makes contact with the movement pivot portion 222 a. The movement pivot receiving portion 217 extends further radially inwardly than a radial position of the movement pivot portion 222 a when the claw member 220 is at a radially innermost position. Also, the movement pivot receiving portion 217 is connected to the cylindrical portion 212. Also, at a portion connecting the movement pivot receiving portion 217 and the cylindrical portion 212 a curved surface 217 a having an indent surface is arranged. It is to be appreciated that the forming of the widened portion 216 b 1 allows a configuration of a mold used to form the center case 210 to be simple. In particular, the mold used to form the center case 210, which is a single component, includes an upper mold, which slides, and a lower mold, which is fixed, wherein the upper mold is removed from the lower mold in a simple manner.

The base portion 214 includes a plane surface which is perpendicular to a direction in which the elastic member 230 extends and which makes contact with the elastic member 230. The plane surface includes a movement restricting indent portion 214 a which is equal to or slightly greater than a diameter of the elastic member 230 which is a spring. The movement restricting indent portion 214 a restricts a movement of the elastic member 230 in the circumferential direction. By virtue of such configuration, when a radial force acting toward the central axis is applied (i.e., when the disk is placed on the chucking mechanism 200) to the claw member 220, the force is not dispersed in the circumferential direction, and therefore, the chucking mechanism 200 allows the disk to be set thereon smoothly.

Also, the base portion 214 preferably includes at a portion connecting the movement restricting indent portion 214 a and the top plate portion 215 a lower contact surface 214 b which restricts, by making contact with the elastic member 230, an axial movement of the elastic member 230. By virtue of such configuration, when the radial force acting toward the central axis is applied to the claw member 220, the force is not dispersed in the axial direction, and therefore, the chucking mechanism 200 allows the disk to be set thereon smoothly.

A movement support receiving portion 218 having two surfaces each having an inclination different from one another is formed radially inward of the movement pivot receiving portion 217. The movement support receiving portion 218 includes an upper movement support surface 218 which is connected to the top plate portion 215 and which is inclined such that the further radially outward a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is, and a lower movement support surface 218 b which is arranged radially outwardly and axially lower and which is inclined such that the further radially outward a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is. A curved surface 218 c is arranged protrudingly in the substantially radially outward direction at a portion connecting the upper movement support surface 218 a and the lower movement support surface 218 b. Also, the curved surface 218 c is formed such that an angle θ2 defined by the upper movement support surface 218 a and the central axis J1 is greater than an angle θ1 defined by the lower movement support surface 211 b and the central axis J1. The angle θ1 may be designed such that the movement assist portion 222 b will be restricted from moving in the radially inward direction. By virtue of such configuration, the disk guiding surface 221 a is allowed to remain inclined radially outwardly and axially downwardly while moving on to the upper movement support surface 218 a. Also, at the upper movement support surface 218 a on which the claw member 220 moves in the radial direction, an axial movement of the tip portion 221 b will be supported. Also, at the upper movement support surface 218 a, the radial movement of the claw member 220 will be supported effectively. Therefore, the disk will be set on the chucking mechanism 200 effectively.

Also, since the movement pivot receiving portion 217 is arranged radially inside of the cylindrical portion 212, when the movement pivot portion 222 a makes contact with an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 212, a mechanism to restrict the claw member 220 from moving exceedingly in the radial direction is formed. Therefore, a separate mechanism for restricting the radial movement of the claw member 220 will not be necessary. Further, the radial length of the movement pivot receiving portion 217 is freely determined within a distance between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 212 and the base portion 214 in accordance with the radial movement of the claw member 220.

Also, the radial length of the movement support receiving portion 218 is freely determined within the distance between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 212 and the base portion 214 in accordance with the radial movement of the claw member 220. Also, since the movement support receiving portion 218 and the movement pivot receiving portion 217 are arranged such as not to overlap in the radial direction with one another, the movement of the movement pivot receiving portion 217 will not be in the way of the movement support receiving portion 218 or vice-versa. Therefore the movement pivot receiving portion 217 and the movement support receiving portion 218 each will be designed in accordance with their movement.

Also, the lower side receiving surface 215 a is arranged between the movement pivot receiving portion 217 and the movement support receiving portion 218 in the circumferential direction.

An aligning claw 211 includes an aligning surface 211 a which makes contact with the central opening portion of the disk (not shown in FIG. 3) so as to align the disk, and a guiding inclined surface 211 b which guides the disk to the aligning surface 211 a. The guiding inclined surface 211 b includes a portion thereof which is arranged axially below the guiding portion 213. That is a portion radially inward of the cylindrical portion 212 of the guiding inclined surface 211 b makes no contact with the disk. That is, a portion radially outward of the cylindrical portion 212 guides the disk to the aligning surface 211.

According to FIG. 4, the claw member 220 includes the claw portion 221 and the pair of movement support portions 222 arranged on circumferentially both sides of the claw portion 221. The movement support portion 222 supports the axial movement of the claw member 220.

The claw portion 221 includes the disk guiding surface 221 a which makes an initial contact with the disk when the disk is set on the chucking mechanism 200, a tip portion 221 b which is formed continuously toward the axially lower direction from the disk guiding surface 221 a and radially outwardly, and a disk retaining surface 221 c which is formed continuously toward the axially lower direction from the tip portion 221 b and retains the disk.

The disk guiding surface 221 a guides the disk to the disk retaining surface 221 c. Also, the disk guiding surface 221 a is a plane surface having no inclination. The disk retaining surface 221 c includes an inclined surface which is inclined such that the further radially outward a portion thereof is the axially upper the portion is, and which makes contact with an upper end of the central opening portion of the disk when the disk is set on the disk setting surface 101 b. Here, the disk guiding surface 221 a is arranged axially above a bottom surface of the top plate portion 215 before the disk is set on the chucking mechanism 200. Since the disk guiding surface 221 a is a plane surface having no inclination, an axial length of the claw portion 221 is minimized. Consequently, the chucking mechanism 200 can be designed having a reduced axial thickness.

Also, mirror polishing which allows the disk to travel smoothly to the disk retaining surface 221 c is applied on the disk guiding surface 221 a and the disk retaining surface 221 c. By virtue of such configuration, the disk can be attached to and detached from the chucking mechanism 200.

According to FIG. 4 d, the claw portion 221 includes at the inner circumferential surface a protrusion 221 d protruding radially inwardly so as to make contact with the elastic member 230. The protrusion 221 d includes at an upper portion thereof a protrusion inclined surface 221 d 1 which is inclined such that the further radially inward a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is. Also, the claw portion 221 includes at a radially inner surface and a bottom portion thereof an inner circumferential surface side inclined surface 221 d 2 which is inclined such that the further radially outward a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is.

The pair of movement support portions 222 attached to the claw portion 221 are extending radially inwardly from a radially inner circumferential side of the claw portion 221. Also, the movement support portion 222 includes the movement pivot portion 222 a which is a pivotal portion of the movement of the claw member 220, and the movement assist portion 222 b which is arranged radially inward of the movement pivot portion 222 a and guides the claw member 220 in the radial direction. Also, the movement support portion 222 includes at a surface thereof which is connected to the upper side contact surface 222 a 1 and which is inclined such that the further radially a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is. By virtue of such inclined surface, when the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 220 moves axially downwardly, the movement support portion 222 makes no contact with the top plate portion 215.

The movement pivot portion 222 a preferably includes a movement pivot side curved surface 222 a 1 which slides with a top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217. The movement pivot side curved surface 222 a 1 needs at least enough curve to allow the tip portion 221 b to move in the axial direction. In particular, the movement pivot side curved surface 222 a 1 of the movement pivot portion 222 a has preferably an even curvature radius. By virtue of such configuration, only the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 220 is allowed to move in the axial direction.

Also, the movement pivot portion 222 a preferably includes at a portion extending radially inwardly from a bottom end surface of the movement pivot side curved surface 222 a 1 an extending plane surface 222 c. The extending plane surface 222 c is a plane surface which is substantially parallel with the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217 when the claw member 220 is contained within the center case 210.

Also, the pair of movement support portions 222 b are arranged substantially on circumferential sides of the claw member 220 preferably including the pair of movement support portions 222. Also, a surface of the movement assist portion 222 b opposed to the movement support receiving portion 218 preferably includes a movement support portion side curved surface which protrudes toward the movement support receiving portion 218. The movement support portion side curved surface 222 b 1 is a curved surface which allows the claw member 220 to slide with the upper movement support surface 218 a and the lower movement support surface 218 b.

A configuration of the chucking mechanism 200 prior to when the disk (not shown in FIG. 5) is set thereon will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 before the disk makes contact therewith.

According to FIG. 5, the claw portion 221 protrudes radially outwardly from the opening 216 of the center case 210. Also, the elastic member 230 is compressed and contained within the center case 210. The elastic member 230 is arranged between an outer circumferential surface of the base portion 214 and an inner circumferential surface of the claw portion 221. Also, the elastic member 230 makes contact with the protrusion 221 d arranged at the inner circumferential surface of the claw portion 221. The compressed elastic member 230 provides a radial force to the claw portion 221 in the radially outward direction.

Next, according to FIG. 5, the movement pivot portion 222 a of the movement support portion 222 makes contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 212 so as to prevent the claw member 220 from moving excessively in the radially outward direction. Also, the movement pivot portion 222 a makes contact with the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217.

The movement pivot portion 222 a preferably includes at the top surface thereof the upper side contact surface 222 a 2 operable to make contact with the bottom surface of the top plate portion 215. Prior to when the disk makes contact with the chucking mechanism 200, the upper side contact surface 221 a 2 is substantially opposed to the bottom surface of the top plate portion 215 via a minute gap in the axial direction. That is, since the upper side contact surface 222 a 2 is not in contact with the bottom surface of the top plate portion 215 prior to when the disk is set on the chucking mechanism 200, an area in which the claw member 220 and the center case 210 make contact with one another will be reduced. Also, when the tip portion 221 b moves in the axially downward direction, the upper side contact surface 22 a 2 is not in contact with the top plate portion 215, the area in which the claw member 220 and the center case 210 make contact with one another will be reduced allowing the claw member 220 to move in the radially inward direction smoothly. By virtue of such configuration, the disk will be set on the chucking mechanism 200 smoothly.

Also, the movement assist portion 222 b is arranged above the lid portion 101 via an axial gap. That is, an axial position of the claw member 220 is determined by the movement pivot portion 222 a and the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217. If the axial position of the claw member 220 is determined by the contact between the lid portion 101 and the movement assist portion 222 b, an assembly error of the rotor holder 100 and the center case 210 will affect the axial position of the claw member 220. According to the present invention, however, the axial position of the claw member 220 is determined by the movement pivot portion 222 a and the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217, and therefore, is less likely to be affected by the assembly error. Therefore, the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention offers a reliable quality. Also note that the movement assist portion 222 b is substantially opposed to the lower movement support surface 218 b of the movement support receiving portion 218 via a minute gap.

It is to be noted that there is no extra component between the bottom surface of the disk retaining surface 221 c and the top surface of the lid portion 101. That is, the side opening portion 216 a extends to a bottom end portion of the cylindrical portion 212, and therefore, a space S1 which defines an axial space between the bottom surface of the disk retaining surface 221 c and the top surface of the lid portion 101 is minimized while the claw portion 221 makes no contact with the top surface of the lid portion 101 when the claw portion 221 is at the lowest position in the axial direction. According to the present invention, the excessive movement of the claw member 220 in the axial direction is prevented by the movement pivot portion 222 a and the movement pivot receiving portion 217, and therefore, it becomes possible to design the space S1 having a minimum space and a preferable accuracy. By virtue of such configuration, it becomes possible to design the chucking mechanism 200 having a preferable thinness.

According to FIG. 1, it is preferable that the base portion 214 of the center case 210 is arranged to reach in the axial direction a central portion in the axial direction of the elastic member 230, or more preferably below in the axial direction of the elastic member 230. By virtue of such configuration, the center case 210 is operable to contain and affix to the rotor portion (e.g., rotor holder 100, rotor magnet 110 and shaft 70) the claw member 220 and the elastic member 230. Therefore, the chucking mechanism 200 will be assembled with facility and a productivity of the brushless motor will be improved.

Movement of Claw Member

Hereinafter, movement of the claw member 220 when a disk D is set on the chucking mechanism 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 through FIG. 11. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 when the disk begins to make contact with the disk guiding surface 221 a. FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present invention in which the movement assist portion 222 b is arranged at a position of a curved surface 218 c. FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present invention in which the movement assist portion 222 b slides over the upper movement support surface 218 a. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present invention in which the tip portion 221 b thereof is at the axially lowest position. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present invention in which the claw member 220 retains the disk D. FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present invention in which an inner configuration of the claw portion 221 according to FIG. 9 is shown. Hereinafter, the disk D is a multi-layered disk including an upper disk Da and a lower disk Db wherein the disk Da is pasted to the disk Db via an adhesive. Note that the elastic member 230 is omitted from FIGS. 6 through 10 in order to better show a relationship between the claw member 220 and the center case 210.

According to FIG. 6, a central opening portion D1 of the disk D makes contact with the disk guiding surface 221 a. Then, the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 220 moves in the axially downward direction. The movement of the claw member 220 is supported via a movable support point RC which is a point at which the movement pivot portion 222 a makes contact with the movement pivot receiving portion 217. Here, a moving radius R1 of the claw member 220 in the axially downward direction equals a distance between the movable support point RC and the tip portion 221 b, and therefore, when the movable support point RC is arranged near the tip portion 221 b, the moving radius can be reduced. Consequently, a moment applied to the claw member 220 in the axially downward direction is reduced, which also reduces the force required to set the disk D on the chucking mechanism 200. That is, the chucking mechanism 200 allows the disk D to be set thereon smoothly.

The movement assist portion 222 b moves axially upward when the tip portion 221 b moves axially downward. Also, when the movement assist portion 222 b moves upward in the axial direction slightly, the movement assist portion 222 b makes contact with and slides on the lower movement support surface 218 b. At this point, the claw member 220 moves radially inwardly along the lower movement support surface 21 b. Also, when the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 220 moves in the axially downward direction, the axial gap between the movement support portion 222 and the lid portion 101 is gradually increased.

Next, according to FIG. 7, the movement assist portion 222 b moves to the position of the curved surface 218 c. At this point, the movement assist portion 222 b makes contact with both the lower movement support surface 218 b and the upper movement support surface 218 a. At the position of the curved surface 218 c, the claw member 220 begins to move substantially in the radial direction. Here, since the tip portion 221 b is already moving in the axially downward direction, the claw member 220 is allowed to move in the radial direction while an angle defined by the top surface of the disk guiding surface 221 a and the central axis J1 remains large. Therefore, when the disk D is being set on the chucking mechanism 200, a great amount of force pushing the claw member 220 in the axially downward direction will not be required.

Next, according to FIG. 8, when the disk D moves further downward in the axial direction, the movement assist portion 222 b makes contact with the upper movement support surface 218 a since the claw member 220 moves radially inwardly. The force applied to the disk D to set the disk D on the chucking mechanism 200 is, because of the inclined surface of the upper movement support surface 218 a, shifted to the radially inward direction. Also, the tip portion 221 b moves axially in the downward direction along the inclination of the upper movement support surface 218 a.

The movement pivot portion 222 a moves radially inward by sliding on the surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217. Here, since the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217 is arranged perpendicularly to the central axis J1, the claw member 220 will not be forced to move axially downwardly due to the force to set the disk on the chucking mechanism. The claw member 220 is allowed to move radially inwardly.

Next, according to FIG. 9, when the claw member 220 is at the radially innermost point (i.e., when the tip portion 221 b makes contact with the inner circumferential surface of the central opening portion D1 of the disk D), the tip portion 221 b is at the axially lowest point. The point at which the tip portion 221 b is determined by the way in which the movement assist portion 222 b and the upper movement support surface 218 a make contact with one another. Also, when the tip portion 221 b is at the lowest point in the axial direction as shown in FIG. 9, an axial height (L1) of the tip portion 221 b from the disk setting surface 101 b is greater than an axial height (L2) which is an axial length between the disk setting surface 101 b having set thereon the disk D and a line (BL) bordering the disk Da and the disk Db. Since the L1 is axially above the BL from the disk setting surface 101 b, a chucking failure in which the tip portion 221 b interferes with the BL.

The movement pivot portion 222 a slides over the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217. Note that the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217 extends radially inwardly further than an innermost point to which the movement pivot portion 222 a reaches. Therefore, an entire sequence of radial movement of the claw member 220 will be conducted over the movement pivot portion 222 a and the movement pivot receiving portion 217. Since the claw member 220 is allowed to move substantially only in the radial direction, the elastic member 230 will not be deformed which may happen when the claw member 220 moves in the axial direction. By virtue of such configuration, the disk D will be set on the chucking mechanism 200 smoothly.

Also, when the tip portion 221 b is at the axially lowest point as shown in FIG. 9, the protrusion inclined surface 221 d 1 which is arranged at the upper portion of the protrusion 221 d and is a mechanism to prevent the elastic member 230 from being deformed in the axial direction becomes substantially perpendicular to the central axis J1 (see FIG. 11). The inner circumferential surface side inclined surface 221 d 2 which is arranged at the radially inner surface and the bottom portion of the claw portion 221 becomes substantially parallel to the central axis J1. By this, when the claw member 220 is at the axially lowest point, the protrusion inclined surface 221 d 1 is operable to substantially prevent the protrusion 221 d from interfering with the elastic member 230. Also, when the claw member 220 is at the axially lowest point, the inner circumferential surface side inclined surface 221 d 2 is operable to prevent the elastic member 230 from moving upward in the axial direction, substantially preventing deformation thereof. Consequently, the elastic member 230 is allowed to provide the radial force to the claw portion 221 without being interfered by the top plate portion 215.

In is to be noted that when the protrusion inclined surface 221 d 1 is as shown in FIG. 9, the protrusion inclined surface 221 d 1 is not limited to being substantially perpendicular to the central axis J1. The protrusion inclined surface 221 d 1 can be designed such that the further radially inward a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is when the tip portion 221 b is at the axially lowest point as shown in FIG. 9.

Next, according to FIG. 10, the tip portion 221 b slides along the inner circumferential surface of the central opening portion D1 of the disk D in the axial upward direction and reaches the top end of the central opening portion D1. Then the disk D is retained by the claw member 220.

Also, while the disk D is retained by the claw member 220, the extending plane surface 222 c makes contact with the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217. A point (hereinafter, referred to as a support point NC) at which the extending plane surface 222 c makes contact with the top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion 217 will function as a fulcrum via which the claw member 220 moves in the axially upward direction. Then, at a contact point TC, the upper side contact surface 222 a 2 of the movement support portion 222 makes contact with the bottom surface of the top plate portion 215. At the contact point TC, the claw member 220 is prevented from moving excessively upward in the axial direction when the disk D is removed from the chucking mechanism 200. By virtue of such configuration, an angle defined by the disk retaining surface 221 c and a surface perpendicular to the central axis J1 will be kept at an optimal degree so as to securely retain the disk D. Also, since the extending plane surface 222 c and the movement pivot receiving portion 222 a make contact with one another, and the upper side contact surface 222 a 2 and the bottom surface of the top plate portion 215 make contact with one another, the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 220 is substantially prevented from moving in the axially upward direction, while the axial movement of the claw member 220 is executed within an axial space between the movement pivot receiving portion 217 and the top plate portion 215. By virtue of such configuration, the movement of the claw member 220 will be controlled within an allowable error of assembling the center case 210, and therefore, a reliable chucking mechanism will be provided.

Also, the movement pivot receiving portion 217 includes a plane surface extending radially inwardly. Also, the extending plane surface 222 c of the claw member 220 is substantially parallel with the movement pivot receiving portion 217, and therefore, substantially prevents the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 220 from moving in the axially upward direction when the claw member 220 moves radially inwardly.

Axial Distance between Tip Portion and Disk Setting Surface

Hereinafter, an axial distance between the tip portion 221 b of the claw portion 221 and the disk setting surface 101 b will be described with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a graph indicating a correlation between a rate of occurrence of chucking failure and axial height (hereafter, referred to as L1) of the tip portion 221 b measured from the disk setting surface 101 b when, for example, a Dual Disc which includes a CD and a DVD pasted to one another via adhesive is placed on the disk setting surface 101 b with the CD side of the dual disc on the bottom. Note that the adhesive is not applied to an entire surface connecting the CD and the DVD. Also note that the vertical axis (Y) of the graph indicates the frequency (%) of the occurrence of the malfunction of the chucking mechanism 200 and the horizontal axis (X) indicates the value (mm) of L1.

According to FIG. 12, the greater the value of L1 is, the smaller the frequency of the occurrence of the malfunction of the chucking mechanism 200 becomes. When such relationship is numerically denoted, it is approximately: Y=−614.64X+667.63. That is, when Y is 0, no malfunction of the chucking mechanism occurs (i.e., when X equals approximately 1.08). Therefore, the value of L1 at which Y becomes 0 is the preferable value for L1. It is to be appreciated that the value X may change in accordance with the amount of adhesive used in the Dual Disc.

Hereafter, an axially downward movement of the claw member 4 when setting a disk 6 on a conventional chucking mechanism 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the conventional chucking mechanism 1 when the claw member 4 makes contact with a central opening portion 6 a of the disk 6. FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the conventional chucking mechanism 1 in which the tip portion 4 b thereof is at an axially lowest position. Note that the disk 6 is a multi-layered disk including an upper disk base 6 b and a lower disk base 6 c pasted to one another.

According to FIG. 15, the tip portion 4 b of the claw member 4 moves axially downwardly when the claw member 4 makes, at a top surface thereof, contact with a bottom end of the central opening portion 6 a, then the claw member 4 moves radially inwardly.

However, according to the conventional chucking mechanism 1, the axial position of the claw member 4 is lowered when the disk 6 makes contact therewith and the claw member 4 is at a radially innermost position inside a center case 3 (see FIGS. 15 and 16). That is, the tip portion 4 b is also moved axially downward causing the tip portion 4 b to be substantially at a line bordering between two disk bases 6 b and 6 c. By this, the chucking failure in which the tip portion 4 b gets struck between the two disk bases 6 b and 6 c may occur.

Also, since the disk retaining surface 4 a includes an upward guiding surface 3 d is arranged at a portion corresponding to a lower side surface thereof, the claw member 4 needs to be arranged axially above the upward guiding surface 3 d.

Therefore, such configuration made it difficult to design a thin chucking mechanism 1. Also, the radially inward movement and the axially downward movement of the tip portion 4 b are conducted via the sliding movement of the lower side surface of the disk retaining surface 4 a and the upward guiding surface 3 d, and therefore, the claw member 4 was extended in the axial direction. By such configuration, it became difficult to design the claw member having a preferable axial thickness while achieving a preferable movement of the claw member 4 in the axially downward direction and in the radially inward direction.

On the other hand, the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present invention, since the movement pivot receiving portion 217 is a plane surface which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis J1, the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 220 moves in the axially downward direction and in the radially inward direction preventing the entire portion of the claw member 220 from moving in the axially downward direction. Therefore, the chucking mechanism 200 according to the present invention minimizes the occurrence of the chucking failure.

Also, the movement of the tip portion 221 b is determined by the movement pivot receiving portion 217 and the movement support receiving portion 218. Here, since the movement pivot receiving portion 217 is a plane surface perpendicular to the central axis J1, the axial position of the tip portion 221 b with respect to the disk setting surface 101 b will be determined with facility. By virtue of such configuration, a configuration of the movement support receiving portion 218 will be simplified, and the chucking failure will be substantially prevented. Also, since the movement pivot receiving portion 222 a is arranged on the side of the claw portion 221, and the movement assist portion 222 b is arranged radially inwardly of the claw portion 221, the movement pivot receiving portion 222 a and the movement assist portion 222 b are designed with greater degree of freedom. Also, since the movement pivot receiving portion 217 and the movement support receiving portion 218 are designed with greater degree of freedom, the claw member 220 can be designed to have a preferable thickness while achieving a preferable movement of the tip portion 221 b of the claw member 4 in the axially downward direction and in the radially inward direction.

Disk Driving Apparatus

Hereinafter, a disk driving apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view seen in the axial direction of the disk driving apparatus according to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention.

According to FIG. 13, a disk driving apparatus 300 preferably includes a brushless motor 320 which fits an opening 311 arranged at a center of a disk shaped disk 310 and rotates the disk 310 in a concentric manner, an optical unit 330 which emits an optical light at the disk 310 in order to store data on the disk 310 and to reproduce data from the disk 310, a gear mechanism 340 which moves the optical unit 330 in the radial direction with respect to the 310, and a housing 350 for accommodating therein the brushless motor 320, the optical unit 330 and the gear mechanism 340.

The gear mechanism 340 includes a motor 341, and a torque receiving gear 342 which receives a rotary torque generated by the motor 341.

The housing 350 preferably includes a bordering plate 351 preferably made of a thin plate so as to divide the disk 310 and the gear mechanism 340. Also the housing 350 preferably includes an opening 352 through which the disk 310 will be inserted and rejected.

The optical unit 330 preferably includes a storing/reproducing portion 331 which emits an optical light, and a moving portion 332 which is arranged vertically with respect to the moves the storing/reproducing portion 331. The moving portion 332 preferably includes an engaging portion 332 a which engages with the torque receiving gear 342. The storing/reproducing portion 331 is engages with the moving portion 332 and is thereby allowed to move in the radial direction.

The torque receiving gear 342 rotates due to the engagement with a gear portion 341 a which is attached to the motor 341. The moving portion 332 moves in the radial direction due to the engagement of the torque receiving gear 342 with the engaging portion 332 a. Then, due to the moves of the moving portion 332, the storing/reproducing portion 331 moves in the radial direction.

Since the disk driving apparatus 300 includes the brushless motor 320 according to the present invention, the disk driving apparatus 300 is allowed to be thin while the disk 310 is set thereon smoothly, and retained thereby securely.

While the present invention has been described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is understood that numerous other modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, although the present preferred embodiment assumes that the movement support receiving portion 218 includes the upper movement support surface 218 a and the lower movement support surface 218 b, the present invention is not limited thereto; the movement support receiving portion 218 may only include the upper movement support surface 218 a. When the movement support receiving portion 218 only includes the upper movement support surface 218 a, the upper movement support surface 218 a is preferably configured such as to allow the movement assist portion 222 b to make a stable contact therewith.

For example, although the present preferred embodiment assumes that the disk D is a multi-layered disk, the present invention is compatible with a single layered disk.

For example, although the present preferred embodiment assumes that the protrusion 221 d of the claw member 220 includes the protrusion inclined surface 221 d 1 in order to minimize the deformation occurring to the elastic member 230, the present invention is not limited thereto; a step portion 221 d 3 may be arranged at a radially inner surface of the protrusion 221 d, via a radial gap therebetween, which may be included at the surface of the elastic member 230 making contact with the elastic member 230 in order to minimize the deformation of the elastic member 230 in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 17, due to the gap between the elastic member 230 and the step portion 221 d 3, even when the claw member 220 moves in the axially downward direction, the deformation in the axially upward direction occurring to the elastic member 230 due to the protrusion 221 d will be minimized.

For example, the elastic member 230 of the present invention may make contact with the base portion 214 of the center case 210, or the elastic member 230 may make contact with the base portion 214 and also with the leveled portion 101 a.

For example, although the present preferred embodiment of the present invention assumes that the opening 216 includes the widened portion 216 b 1, the present invention is not limited thereto. A through hole may be arranged penetrating between the top surface and the bottom surface of the top plate portion 215 which is circumferentially apart from the opening 216. In such case, the movement pivot receiving portion 217 is arranged at a position corresponding to the through hole. A circumferential width of the through hole is equal to or greater than that of the movement pivot receiving portion 217. 

1. A chucking mechanism operable to detachably set thereon a discoid disk including a central opening portion, the chucking mechanism comprising: a center case arranged concentrically with a predetermined central axis, including a cylindrical portion which fits the central opening portion, a top plate covering an axially upper side of the cylindrical portion, and a plurality of openings arranged in a circumferential direction extending from the cylindrical portion to an outer circumferential side of the top plate portion; a claw member movable with respect to the opening, protruding in a radially outward direction from the cylindrical portion, and making contact with the central opening portion of the disk; an elastic member providing radial force to the claw member; and a turn table including a disk setting surface setting thereon the disk, wherein the claw member includes a claw portion having a disk retaining surface making contact with the central opening portion and retaining the disk, and a movement support portion having a movement pivot portion which is arranged on circumferential side of the claw portion and is a pivotal portion for a movement of the tip portion in, at least, axially downward direction, and a movement assist portion which is arranged radially inwardly of the movement pivot portion and guides the claw member moving in the radially inward direction, the center case includes a movement pivot receiving portion receiving movement of the movement pivot portion, and a movement support receiving portion receiving movement of the movement assist portion, and the movement support receiving portion and the movement assist portion each are arranged radially inwardly of the cylindrical portion.
 2. The chucking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the center case is made by an injection molding and made of a resin material, and the top plate portion axially opposed to the movement pivot receiving portion includes a through hole whose width is greater than a circumferential and radial width of the movement pivot receiving portion.
 3. The chucking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the center case is made by an injection molding and made of a resin material, the center case includes at least two movement pivot receiving portions arranged correspondingly to the openings circumferentially apart from one another, the opening includes a widened portion whose circumferential width is greater than a rest of the opening, the circumferential width of the widened portion is greater than a circumferential width of a pair of movement pivot receiving portions, and the circumferential width of the widened portion is greater than a radial width of the movement pivot receiving portion.
 4. The chucking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the top plate includes a plurality of the through holes arranged apart from one another in the circumferential direction, and a portion of a bottom surface of the top plate portion makes contact with a top surface of the movement pivot portion when the tip portion moves in the axially upward direction.
 5. The chucking mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the claw member includes at both circumferential sides thereof a movement pivot portion, and the circumferential width of the widened portion is smaller than a circumferential width of the claw member including the movement pivot portions.
 6. The chucking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movement support portion makes contact with an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion when the disk is not set on the chucking mechanism.
 7. The chucking mechanism according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the movement support portion making contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion is the movement pivot portion, and the movement pivot portion has at a portion thereof between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion and a top surface of the movement pivot receiving portion an even curvature radius.
 8. The chucking mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the top surface movement pivot receiving portion and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion is connected to one another via a curved surface, and a curvature radius of the curved surface is smaller than the curvature radius of the curved surface of the movement pivot receiving portion.
 9. The chucking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movement pivot receiving portion includes a plane surface substantially perpendicular to the central axis.
 10. The chucking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the opening includes a side opening portion arranged toward the cylindrical portion, and an upper side opening portion arranged upwardly from the side opening portion, and the side opening portion penetrates to a bottom surface of the cylindrical portion.
 11. A brushless motor including the chucking mechanism according to claim 1, the motor comprising: a rotor portion having therein a rotor magnet rotating concentrically with the central axis, and a stator portion having therein a stator arranged opposite from the rotor magnet rotatably supporting the rotor portion.
 12. A disk driving apparatus including the brushless motor according to claim 11, the apparatus comprising: an optical unit optically storing data on the disk and reproducing data on the disk, and a gear mechanism moving the optical unit in the radial direction. 